First Fridays | On the right foot

Patrons enjoy a first Friday at Tequila’s Mexican restaurant in the Track 29 complex in Yakima. (Jennifer Dagdagan/For the Yakima Herald-Republic)

For some, the first of the month means a payday and a time to turn the page on that desk calendar.
For others, it means First Fridays are here.

The first Friday of each month, businesses in downtown Yakima offer great deals and live music as the downtown area comes alive.
Many of the establishments are restaurants — like Tequila’s Family Mexican Restaurant, Santiago’s Gourmet Mexican Restaurant and Second Street Grill.

“We have a full patio, rain or snow or heat, every first Friday,” said Janet Betancourth, owner of Tequila’s on Track 29. “We have lime margaritas for $2 all day long and that’s what brings everyone in.”

Tequila’s also brings in live entertainment for First Fridays during the summer months.

In addition to full-service restaurants, places like Gilbert Cellars and the Kana Winery are hopping. And small businesses, like the
Little Soapmaker on Yakima Avenue, have specials for customers.

“The atmosphere has definitely got a great buzz to it,” said Laura Rankin, tasting room manager for Gilbert Cellars. “It’s really fun to see a lot of people walking around downtown and seeing a lot of people stopping in the different venues for live music. It’s been great to see

Yakima’s attitude change toward downtown and it points to the success of downtown. It’s definitely a good buzz and a good atmosphere.”
Betancourth says Tequila’s has twice as many patrons the first weekend of the month as compared to any other Friday.

Adding that something extra is important for each business, Rankin said.

“We have live music every First Friday and sometimes we’ll have a new gallery opening at our gallery space in the cellar,” she added. “It’s just a great night for getting people in and enjoying our wine bar atmosphere.